Level Ground, a Los Angeles-based arts collective, is seeking a Director of Art Residency (10-15 hrs/week) to lead and expand the collective’s Art Residency program which was established in 2017. The Director is a member of a small team of Staff Artists who work closely to run the collective while overseeing individual Level Ground projects. Specifically, they will work closely with the Lead Mentor, a new role that will be held by the outgoing Director of Art Residency, Leslie Foster.

The residency is an annual program, which provides three artists with funding, mentorship, and resources as they complete a body of work for a solo show at the end of the residency. The ideal candidate is well organized, able to take on a variety of administrative tasks, and is enthusiastic about mentoring emerging artists, the art world, and creating platforms for marginalized artists, specifically queer artists of color, systemically excluded from the art world. 

Please review the job posting and application requirements below. We’ll be accepting applications through June 15, 2022 and will let all candidates know about our final decision by the end of July 2022.

Core Responsibilities 

Program Development

The director will be responsible for supervising the annual residency selection process, including the nomination of members to the selection committee, onboarding new residents annually, and providing mentorship for residents during their time at Level Ground. In addition, they will build and maintain strategic and mutually beneficial relationships with partner galleries, at which solo shows are held, art institutions, and lead the planning and installation of solo shows during the annual Residency Week event. The Director is also responsible for sustaining alumni relations and building programs that provide opportunities for former residents to maintain close ties with the collective.

Strategic Development

The director will develop and pursue broader long term goals by writing the residency strategic plan every three years and ensuring that the program is grown and maintained in a sustainable manner. These goals may include, but are not limited to the addition of facilities for the residents, establishing partner relationships with major art institutions, and the addition of new residency opportunities. 

Financial

The Director must maintain the residency budget, oversee the dispersal of funds to residents, and help advise residents on use of funds. They will work closely with other Staff Artists to create the annual Level Ground budget and will also participate in the grant-writing process for grants the collective is seeking that will provide funds for the residency. 

Administrative

Level Ground works as a cooperative with a non-hierarchical leadership structure. As a result, Staff Artists share a variety of administrative tasks. The director will spend about 20% of their time completing these administrative tasks, which might include budget development, maintaining relationships with stakeholders, website management, and serving on the board of directors.

Wage Information

Level Ground utilizes a transparent, four-tiered payment system. Most new employees will be hired at T1 and are eligible to advance to T2 after an initial 30, 60, 90 day review process. 

The T1 base rate for 2022 is $21.18/hour, which is increased annually to account for the national COLA. In addition, Staff Artists receive a $0.50 raise for every year (up to 10 years) that they have been on the team.

Job Skills and Qualifications*

• Established relationships with LA-based art institutions 

• Experience working directly with artists in the development of their work

• A track record of planning, supervising, and installing exhibitions

• Experience with multi-year advanced planning and budgeting

• Experience with art press releases and general PR

• Strong communication, writing, and interpersonal skills

• Community-building experience

• Ability to work well both independently and within a team

• Ability to manage multiple projects at once

• Comfort navigating both the for-profit and nonprofit art world

* Even if you don’t meet all of these requirements, please apply anyway! We are deeply interested in the development of our Staff Artists and a candidate with a willingness to learn and grow is deeply appealing to our team. 

Additional Experience

While not required the following are preferred in candidates for the position:

• Curatorial experience

• Comfort using Airtable, Squarespace, and Canva

• International art exhibition experience

• BFA or MFA in an art-related field

Testimonials from Past Resident Artists

Coffee Kang (2020)

I was an artist-in-residence at Level Ground in 2019. I later joined Level Ground’s Artist Collective and attended numerous programs and events that Level Ground organized for artists and filmmakers such as the Production Incubator, Blooming in the Whirlwind, High Beams, Artist Weekend, etc. It’s my third year with Level Ground now, and I am still impressed with the space and resources it provides for artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, the lively energy that it keeps among all of the artists and staff, and the transparency in its administration and communication. As a queer artist of color from China, I have found Level Ground to be a space of belonging and security, where I am free to be who I am and free to do what I want.

Tristan Espinoza (2019)

I’ve always situated my work in community, and Level Ground has helped extend that audience in meaningful ways through their networks. You have affirmed the direction I’ve chosen for myself in terms of my creative and research practice. I’m at a pivotal point in my practice, and having Level Ground’s support has been absolutely essential in enabling some of my more experimental interests.

Rae Threat (2018)

There was a moment when the Level Ground team sat me down and were fully accepting of me as I shared about my mental health. They supported me throughout a difficult season. That speaks volumes about the type of organization they are and that they support artists who really need it. So thank you!

Application Requirements

We’ll be accepting applications through June 15, 2022 and will notify all applicants on our decision by the end of July 2022. Thank you for your time in considering and/or applying to this opportunity.

• Please send an email to team@levelground.co that answers the following questions (in no more than 150 words each):

  • Why are you interested in this position?

  • Why art?

  • How do you approach collaboration in your own work?

  • What is the last piece of art, literature, music, food that left you deeply inspired?

• Feel free to include any of the following additional materials (optional):

  • Resume or CV

  • Website or Portfolio

  • Social Media handle(s)